The screams of tormented souls echoed relentlessly through the desolate air of the Valley of Broken Souls, a cacophony that seemed to pierce the very fabric of reality. Yet, in that moment, the small group that had been accompanying Andrew halted in their tracks, their bodies no longer trembling with the fear that had gripped them earlier. They stood frozen, staring at the lifeless form sprawled on the cold, unforgiving ground. Andrew's body lay motionless, a stark contrast to the chaotic symphony around him. His mind, however, was far from still. Deep within his thoughts, he recalled the words of his master: "You must draw energy from the air itself to forge your own soul energy." But how exactly? The question lingered, unanswered, yet Andrew pushed it aside. "Doesn't matter!" he resolved inwardly, determination steeling his resolve.
He decided to focus on his skin, believing it to be the gateway through which he could channel the soul energy permeating the atmosphere. "I think through it, I can pass soul energy from the air," he pondered, visualizing the process in his mind's eye. Okay, then. Let's start. With a deep, steadying breath, he began to concentrate on his skin, willing it to absorb the ethereal essence swirling around him. But almost immediately, an excruciating pain erupted throughout his entire body, as if every nerve ending had been set ablaze. It was a torment unlike anything he had ever experienced, ripping through his muscles and bones with merciless intensity. "Aaaaaahhh!!!" Andrew screamed, the sound tearing from his throat in a raw, primal outburst that blended seamlessly with the valley's endless wails.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth pressed onward toward the distant end of the valley, her steps measured and deliberate, as though she were deliberately lingering, waiting for Andrew to catch up. She moved slowly, her gaze occasionally flicking back over her shoulder, a mix of admiration and curiosity etched on her features. "Andrew... You are incredible," she murmured softly to herself, her voice barely audible over the ambient screams. From the very first glance, she had sensed his strength, an innate power that set him apart. But to think that he could venture so deep into the Valley of Broken Souls, a place notorious for claiming the lives of the unprepared. The corpses they had encountered along the way—scattered remnants of their predecessors who had failed to harness the soul energy—served as grim reminders of the valley's lethality. And yet, Andrew had surpassed them all, relying solely on his physical form, without the aid of any external artifacts or prior training. It was astonishing, a testament to his resilience.
Suddenly, a terrifying scream cut through the air from far behind her, originating from the spot where Andrew's body was supposed to remain inert. The sound was distinct, human, laced with agony that made even Elizabeth pause. "What?! Is he really trying to awaken himself?" she exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. She had underestimated him, that much was clear. To endure the pain of that particular method of awakening—the raw, unfiltered absorption of soul energy directly from the environment—was no small feat. It required not just physical endurance but a mental fortitude that bordered on the superhuman. "I should ask him more about his past after we meet again," she decided, a spark of intrigue igniting within her. With that thought, she quickened her pace, no longer dawdling but walking at a normal speed, her mind racing with questions about the enigmatic man she had come to respect.
Back at the site of Andrew's ordeal, a puddle of blood had begun to spread across the cracked road, seeping into the parched earth like a macabre stain. The source was Andrew himself, lying at its center, his body wracked with the consequences of his attempts. His skin had turned a vivid, inflamed red from the countless failures in absorbing the soul energy. What had started as microscopic pores designed for intake had transformed into open wounds, raw and weeping from his persistent efforts. Each try had exacted a toll, tearing at his flesh with invisible claws. "I can't... give up... I've gone... that far. I must... I must find my memories. I must find out what happened to my family and what happened to me in the past!!!" His thoughts were a whirlwind of desperation and resolve, fueling him onward despite the agony.
"I must! I must recover my memories!!!" Andrew roared aloud, his voice echoing defiantly against the valley's screams. He had begun to succeed in absorbing the energy, feeling it trickle into his system like a hesitant stream. But now, a new challenge arose: "How can I circulate it in my body?" he wondered amid the pain, his mind sharpening even as his body protested. The energy was burning his skin from within, a corrosive force that threatened to consume him if left unchecked. "If I won't tackle this quickly, then I guess I will die, just like the other humans here," he realized grimly, glancing at the skeletal remains nearby. An idea formed: "I think if I concentrate all the energy in my heart, it will start to circulate with my blood throughout my body. But if I'm wrong, I will instantly die. I will die if I don't try as well." It was a gamble, life hanging in the balance.
As he committed to the action, the ground beneath him began to tremble once more, but this time it felt like a full-fledged earthquake, the earth itself convulsing in response to the surge of power. His scream surpassed the valley's chorus, a piercing cry that seemed to silence the broken souls for a fleeting moment, as if they paused to listen to this intruder's defiance. The scream tapered off, and with it, an eerie quiet descended upon the valley, the usual sounds muted. Andrew's body stirred, muscles twitching as life returned. He pushed himself up slowly, his form beginning to heal, wounds knitting together while steam rose from them like ethereal vapors.
Standing now, Andrew gazed at his healing wounds in awe. "So that is how it works. Soul Energy," he said to himself, a sense of wonder creeping into his voice. "Ha.. Haha.. hahahah," he laughed, the sound bubbling up from deep within, reminiscent of his carefree days back on Earth. The valley's voices resumed their haunting melody, and the wind clawed at his clothes once more. However, Andrew felt no pressure, no pain—nothing but lightness. His body was as buoyant as a feather, invigorated by the newfound energy coursing through him. "Ok. I think I get it. Then I should find Master." He began to walk, scanning his surroundings. "So I have no idea where she is. Well, there are smells of blood and decay around. But the only way which was standing out from the rest was that one which had the smell of trash."
As he progressed through the valley, the corpses of failed humans appeared less frequently, their grisly presence thinning out. In their stead, he noticed erratic droplets of blood scattered along the road, as if the bleeder had wandered aimlessly, without purpose or direction. The valley remained its usual chaotic self—winds howling, shadows twisting—but Andrew's body was in a perfect state, restored and empowered. Yet, the deeper he ventured, the more an odd sensation gnawed at him from within. "How strange... My body must be in its prime state now, but I have a very weird feeling as if my body itself is devouring me inside. As if my soul is diminishing slowly," he thought, a flicker of unease crossing his mind. "And the voices in my head are becoming louder and louder. It's becoming annoying to feel all of these."
"I think if I decrease the amount of the soul energy in my body, it might solve these problems," Andrew mused aloud. He glanced at his wrist, where red veins pulsed visibly. To his shock, they had taken on a distinct shape, darkening slightly. "What is this?!" Andrew screamed, his voice cracking with alarm. "Why does it look like the tattoos of Master? Is it somehow related to the soul energy?" The realization hit him like a thunderbolt, leaving him stunned.
Undeterred, he pressed on into a nearby visible fog, a thick veil that even the relentless wind couldn't disperse, as if it were an immutable barrier. However, as he advanced, the fog began to weaken gradually, thinning out with each step. Andrew's view cleared over time, the light from a distant star piercing through once more, bathing the landscape in a faint, ethereal glow. The wind, once abrasive, grew more gentle, almost welcoming compared to its earlier ferocity. After a certain distance, it ceased entirely, leaving an unnatural calm. In the distance, he spotted a small house emerging from the haze. "Oh... Finally! I found a place to stay for a while," Andrew said with excitement, his spirits lifting. "Master should be nearby. It would be good to find her as fast as I can." He continued, "I should ask her about the tattoo on my hand. Maybe she will know about it."
But as he took another step, his foot landed in a small puddle of water. The splash was faint, barely noticeable, yet in that instant, everything shifted. The world grew darker, the star's light fading away as if swallowed by an abyss. "What the hell is happening again?!" Andrew exclaimed, panic rising in his chest. "I should get away from here as fast as I can. I don't know why, but I have a very strange feeling about it," he thought urgently. Without hesitation, he dashed forward at maximum speed, his breathing accelerating into ragged gasps, his blood pressure surging as adrenaline flooded his system. He sensed instinctively that if he didn't escape this place swiftly, death would claim him.
Rushing toward what he hoped was the end of this cursed area, a tall figure materialized in front of him. It was no longer human—its face twisted in a frozen expression of fear mingled with a psychopathic smile, eyes hollow and unblinking. Andrew didn't hesitate; he veered sharply to the left, only to encounter another monster, this one bearing a frozen mask of despair. He spun in the opposite direction, heart pounding, but realization dawned: he was already surrounded. The creatures closed in, their eerie forms blocking every path, the air thick with impending doom.